AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Edwin Kagin (859-384-7000 or ekagin@atheists.org
Frank Zindler (614-299-1036 or fzindler@atheists.org)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2006


      ATHEISTS CALL FOR OPEN DISCUSSION, "FREE MARKET OF IDEAS"
                      OVER DA VINCI CODE FLAP


An Atheist advocacy group today chided religious groups wanting to boycott
or censor the "Da Vinci Code" movie, and instead called for "open discussion
and a free market of ideas" regarding the controversial film.

Spokespersons for American Atheists also said that the same level of
scrutiny applied to Dan Brown's blockbuster thriller and the film adaptation
should also be used to question the Old and New Testaments, and all other
religious claims as well.

"If we're going to pick apart the Da Vinci on a line-by-line basis and point
out all of the shortcomings of the film, we should be doing the same with
some of the astounding claims accepted on blind faith that we find in the
Bible," said Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists.

Johnson added that the Vatican and other religious groups are guilty of a
double-standard when it comes to the "Da Vinci Code."

"They want us to believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, walked on
water and rose from the dead, but then tell us that it is blasphemy to
suggest that he may have done something prosaic like engage in an affair
or have offspring."

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said that
while both the novel by Dan Brown and the film adaptation of the Da Vinci
Code have obvious flaws, religious groups should refrain from insisting
that a disclaimer be inserted into the movie.

"We'd have to put a similar disclaimer at the beginning of any religion-
themed film," said Mr. Silverman.  "What about movies like Cecil B. DeMille's
'Ten Commandments,' or Mel Gibson's 'Passion of the Christ' ?  What if
Muslims or Scientologists didn't like a particular program?"

"When it comes to artistic expression, censorship and warning labels are
inevitably a dangerous and poor choice for consumers," Silverman added.

For further information on The DaVinci Code and related issues including
the historicity of the Bible, contact:

EDWIN KAGIN (859-384-7000 or ekagin@atheists.org)
FRANK ZINDLER (614-299-1036 or fzindler@atheists.org)

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses
issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402